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Post by NanaKate on Jul 8, 2014 16:07:42 GMT
While I know some of you would rather stick needles in your eyes than visit Branson, DH and I have never been and are considering a trip there for the long Labor Day weekend.
Anyone that has been there care to share favorite places to stay, restaurants, shows, fun things to see and do?
TIA!
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Post by workingclassdog on Jul 8, 2014 18:54:12 GMT
Oh Branson is such fun. I took my kids who were teenagers 13/14ish and they rolled their eyes until we got there and they ended up loving it. There is SO much to see and do.
One show that has been there since I was little is the Baldknobbers. They have been in the Ozarks since the 1800s.. now it is a variety show. I went once when I was little and just a few years ago with the kids. It's one of a couple of 'local' shows.
We also went to a famous 5&10 store which is pretty funky...Dick's 5 and dime. The store is LOADED from floor to ceiling with all kinds of 'junk'.. pretty fun to walk around and spot funny stuff.
Otherwise there is just so much to pick from...
Silver Dollar City is also a favorite spot for tourist.. like an old timey amusement park... and you can see the show 'The Shepard of the Hills'
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purplebee
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Post by purplebee on Jul 8, 2014 19:32:03 GMT
We have been a number of times over the last couple of years, it's about a two hour drive. We stay at the Seven Gables Inn. Clean, reasonable, centrally located, and their included breakfast is very good. Grace is the owner and I would recommend them. Lots to see and do there. Two shows we go back to over and over again are the Johnny Cash Songbook (we love old country) and the John Denver Tribute both at the Oprey Theater at the IMAX complex. A small venue, and the same folks put on the shows, they do a great job with both. We really enjoyed the Dixie Stampede and the Branson Belle riverboat, and the #1 Hits of the 60's show had us singing nonstop, it was lots of fun. You might want to get your reservations made early, Labor Day weekend will be busy. If there is any way to wait and go the following weekend, or even later, it might be less busy, though I've been told the fall is their busiest season. Weekends are always more crowded. Hope you have a fun Branson experience!
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Post by NanaKate on Jul 8, 2014 19:56:52 GMT
Thanks so much, Ladies for the info. I will definitely check out the Seven Gables Inn and thanks for the tips on shows - we'd love the Johnny Cash Songbook for sure!
Did you purchase show tickets in advance or the day of the show?
I had heard about Dick's Five and Dime. Can't wait to check it out!
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Post by sugarmama on Jul 8, 2014 21:05:11 GMT
Table Rock lake is a beautiful place to go as well. The area around Branson is so pretty in the summer.
As for shows, check out Clay Cooper's theatre. He has a sound similar to Hank Jr. and has been entertaining in Branson for years.
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purplebee
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Post by purplebee on Jul 8, 2014 21:08:55 GMT
We've bought tix the day of the show, but that was weekday/off season, we've made reservations early during busy times of the year.
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Post by mom2emilytaryn on Jul 8, 2014 21:15:16 GMT
We have taken two family road trips to Branson and its been great both times! I second the Dixie Stampede show. We also saw Kirby Van Burch (magician) about 9 years ago, but when we went back last summer, reviews were pretty bad for him, so we did not see it again. There is a Duck Tour that is fun to do. Branson Landing is a nice place to shop and have a meal. We also loved the Titanic Museum, I would say that is one of the few museums where we all read every display and actually listened to all of the recordings on the audio tour. Last summer, we stayed at Still Water Lakefront Resort, and loved it!! It is a scenic drive from all of Branson's tourist areas, but well worth it. They have a couple of swimming pools, kayaks, paddleboats, jet skis for rent, basketball, horseshoes, a small store / cafe...it was just a really relaxing place to stay, and very inexpensive.
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Post by Kymberlee on Jul 8, 2014 21:17:56 GMT
That place is a trip. We went several years ago when we were stationed in Kansas just to check it out. There is a nice resort near Branson that I think is owned by Bass Pro Shops. I can't remember the exact name off the top of my head, though.
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Post by sugarmama on Jul 8, 2014 21:20:50 GMT
I bet you're thinking of Big Cedar. I'd like to go there just to stay at Big Cedar. It's gorgeous and I bet it would be fun to stay there at Christmas as well.
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Post by Kymberlee on Jul 8, 2014 21:24:55 GMT
Yep, I think that is it. Wow…it was just beautiful. I agree that Christmas would be a neat time to visit.
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freebird
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Post by freebird on Jul 8, 2014 21:39:07 GMT
I went at Christmas one year because I'd always wanted to go. I was really disappointed. Last year on our anniversary we had dinner on the Landing Princess boat tour, it was very nice. I requested a table alone as it was our anniversary and we got one of the best seats in the house.
I've never shopped at the Landing because it pisses me off. LOL. When I was a kid that's where you went to feed the ducks and have picnics, now it's concrete and looks like a mall. You can't even see the water most of the time you're there, just another mall.
We took the train ride last year too, it leaves right next to the Hilton. I enjoyed that, the train is really cool. Get there early so you can get a seat up in the domed tops carriages.
I still much prefer old downtown Branson. You can walk and shop. Been to just the Dixie Stampede only once. No other shows. When I was a kid we went to Silver Dollar City almost every year. Love that place. If you go in after 3 p.m., you get to go the next day for free so we'd leave early in the morning and go straight to the park.
Ride the ducks at least once, it's fun!
I have crap luck with hotels down there so I can't recommend anything really.
People like to bag on Branson, but really, I don't think they try hard enough as there's so much for everyone there.
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Deleted
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Sept 28, 2024 22:21:41 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2014 21:41:22 GMT
Love Branson! We will be there that same weekend. I will warn you, by Saturday afternoon the strip will be bumper to bumper. We always go to SDC. Dixie Stampede is a blast and ride the ducks is fun. We like to walk the landing and watch the fountains. We always rent something at Indian Point to avoid the strip madness once it kicks in.
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Post by sugarmama on Jul 8, 2014 22:02:19 GMT
If you go to Dixie Stampede--be aware that if you suffer from allergies, this is a nightmare if you have no meds. When we arrived, they had a sign posted, but since we did not know, if was too late and my poor daughter was in such misery, she ended up leaving halfway through the show.
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Post by NanaKate on Jul 8, 2014 22:31:40 GMT
Thanks everyone. I'm taking notes!
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Post by scrappincolleen on Jul 8, 2014 22:45:56 GMT
My family went many years ago when my brother and I were teens and we all enjoyed it.
It's not too far from Springfield, so if you get a chance stop by Scrapbook Generations. I haven't been there but lots of friends have and from the pictures it looks like heaven on earth for scrappers!!!
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Deleted
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Sept 28, 2024 22:21:41 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2014 2:48:36 GMT
Scrapbook generation is a great place to stop and shop as well as Scrapbooks Forever on the strip..
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Post by cecilia on Jul 9, 2014 3:02:53 GMT
I went on a trip to Branson when I was 15 with my Girl Scout troop around Christmas. I enjoyed how the city was decorated, but that was about it. (I was a teen, so, that might have had something to do with it. lol.)
I've stopped in Branson a few times on my way to Springfield. Scrapbooks Forever is worth a stop. Scrapbook Generation is also worth the drive to Springfield.
There is a toy museum in Branson (on the strip). Around $10 admission per person. My Dad thought it was neat. (Seems like it was next to a bank and across the street from a bumper car/go cart place).
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Deleted
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Sept 28, 2024 22:21:41 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2014 3:04:13 GMT
Thanks for mentioning us (SG)! We love travelers! And I agree -- Scrapbooks Forever in Branson is a really nice store. Lots of tourist-related die-cuts, and heavy into stamps and that type of thing.
I live about an hour-and-a-half from Branson. Even though the town has a certain reputation, there really are tons of fun things to do there. Many of them have already been mentioned - Titanic Museum, Silver Dollar City, Dixie Stampede, The Landing, etc. The older part of town (with the 5 & Dime) is a fun place with several flea markets. Shepherd of the Hills was a fantastic outdoor production, but went out of business last year after decades. However, I thought I heard that it re-opened. I'm just not sure.
If you aren't in a hurry, it's also fun to drive the strip just to see all the sights.
Another good place to stay is Thousand Hills -- it's a golf course/condo/cabin complex right in the middle of all the action. The one- and two-bedroom cabins are really nice, and you feel like you're in the middle of nowhere, but you're actually just a couple of blocks off the strip.
Lots of good places to eat -- love several of the spots at The Landing, including seafood, barbecue, steaks, Mexican, Italian, and more. We also like to eat at Outback (it's different from the national chain).
Hope you have a great time!
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Post by megop on Jul 9, 2014 3:06:04 GMT
What kind of experience are you looking for? High activity? Tranquil? Lake/water?
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Post by worrywart on Jul 9, 2014 3:07:31 GMT
Do you like bike riding? There is a park about 30 minutes from Branson called Dogwood Canyon. It has walking, biking, and I think a train or tram. You can check out the prices online, it is a little high but we had a great time biking the (paved) trail. Everything is manicured and perfect and it is really gorgeous. Read reviews on tripadvisor to help see if it is for you.
We also went to Dixie Stampede, that was fun...any other shows were not that memorable for me. If you have kids with you, there is a water slide, or was, on the strip. It is old but fun for kids.
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Post by megop on Jul 9, 2014 3:12:56 GMT
There is sort of a "new Branson" experience and "old Branson" experience. Loads to do. The Landing is on Taneycomo, which is the after Dam water flow. Tablerock is the big lake. Old Branson? Presley's, Shoji Tabuchi, Silver Dollar City, go carts, 10000 t-shirts and shot glasses.
Newer Branson is Landing, higher end shopping, outlets, Titanic exhibit etc. etc.
Depends what you are looking for. West Branson, less hustle and bustle and more sitting on balcony/deck without the hub hub, but growing.
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